422.001 State role in housing and urban development.—The role of state government required by part I of chapter 421 (Housing Authorities Law), chapter 422 (Housing Cooperation Law), and chapter 423 (Tax Exemption of Housing Authorities) is the responsibility of the Department of Community Affairs; and the department is the agency of state government responsible for the state’s role in housing and urban development.

422.01 Short title.—This chapter may be referred to as the “Housing Cooperation Law.”

History.—s. 1, ch. 17982, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 7100(3-oo).

422.02 Finding and declaration of necessity.—It has been found and declared in the Housing Authorities Law that there exist in the state unsafe and insanitary housing conditions and a shortage of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low income; that these conditions necessitate excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds for crime prevention and punishment, public health, welfare and safety, fire and accident protection, and other public services and facilities; and that the public interest requires the remedying of these conditions. It is found and declared that the assistance herein provided for the remedying of the conditions set forth in the Housing Authorities Law constitutes a public use and purpose and an essential governmental function for which public moneys may be spent and other aid given; that it is a proper public purpose for any state public body to aid any housing authority operating within its boundaries or jurisdiction or any housing project located therein, as the state public body derives immediate benefits and advantages from such an authority or project; and that the provisions hereinafter enacted are necessary in the public interest.

History.—s. 2, ch. 17982, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 7100(3-pp).

422.03 Definitions.—The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this chapter shall have the following respective meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

(1) “Housing authority” shall mean any housing authority created pursuant to the Housing Authorities Law of this state.

(2) “Housing project” shall mean any work or undertaking of a housing authority pursuant to the Housing Authorities Law or any similar work or undertaking of the Federal Government.

(3) “State public body” shall mean any city, town, county, municipal corporation, commission, district, authority, other subdivision or public body of the state.

(4) “Governing body” shall mean the council, commission, board of supervisors or trustees, or other board or body having charge of the fiscal affairs of the state public body.

(5) “Federal Government” shall mean the United States, the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, or any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States.

History.—s. 3, ch. 17982, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 7100(3-qq).

422.04 Cooperation in undertaking housing projects.—

(1) For the purpose of aiding and cooperating in the planning, undertaking, construction or operation of housing projects located within the area in which it is authorized to act, any state public body may upon such terms, with or without consideration, as it may determine:

(a) Dedicate, sell, convey or lease any of its property to a housing authority or the Federal Government;

(b) Cause parks, playgrounds, recreational, community, educational, water, sewer or drainage facilities or any other works, which it is otherwise empowered to undertake, to be furnished adjacent to or in connection with housing projects;

(d) Plan or replan, zone or rezone any part of such state public body; make exceptions from building regulations and ordinances; any city or town also may change its map;

(e) Enter into agreements, which may extend over any period, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary, with a housing authority or the Federal Government respecting action to be taken by such state public body pursuant to any of the powers granted by this chapter;

(f) Do any and all things, necessary or convenient to aid and cooperate in the planning, undertaking, construction or operation of such housing projects;

(g) Purchase or legally invest in any of the debentures of a housing authority and exercise all of the rights of any holder of such debentures;

(h) With respect to any housing project which a housing authority has acquired or taken over from the Federal Government and which the housing authority by resolution has found and declared to have been constructed in a manner that will promote the public interest and afford necessary safety, sanitation and other protection, no state public body shall require any changes to be made in the housing project or the manner of its construction or take any other action relating to such construction;

(i) In connection with any public improvements made by a state public body in exercising the powers herein granted, such state public body may incur the entire expense thereof.

(2) Any law or statute to the contrary notwithstanding, any sale, conveyance, lease or agreement provided for in this section may be made by a state public body without appraisal, public notice, advertisement or public bidding.

History.—s. 4, ch. 17982, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 7100(3-rr).

422.05 Contracts for payments for services.—In connection with any housing project located wholly or partly within the area in which it is authorized to act, any state public body may contract with a housing authority or the Federal Government with respect to the sum or sums, if any, which the housing authority or the Federal Government may agree to pay, during any year or period of years, to the state public body for the improvements, services and facilities to be furnished by it for the benefit of said housing project, but in no event shall the amount of such payments exceed the estimated cost to the state public body of the improvements, services or facilities to be so furnished; provided, however, that the absence of a contract for such payments shall in no way relieve any state public body from the duty to furnish, for the benefit of said housing project, customary improvements and such services and facilities as such state public body usually furnishes without a service fee.

History.—s. 5, ch. 17982, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 7100(3-ss).

422.06 Advances to housing authority.—When any housing authority which is created for any city becomes authorized to transact business and exercise its powers therein, the governing body of the city shall immediately make an estimate of the amount of money necessary for the administrative expenses and overhead of such housing authority during the first year thereafter, and shall appropriate such amount to the authority out of any moneys in such city treasury not appropriated to some other purposes. The moneys so appropriated shall be paid to the authority as a donation. Any city, town or county located in whole or in part within the area of operation of a housing authority shall have the power from time to time to lend or donate money to the authority or to agree to take such action. The housing authority, when it has money available therefor, shall make reimbursements for all such loans made to it.

History.—s. 6, ch. 17982, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 7100(3-tt).

422.07 Procedure for exercising powers.—The exercise by a state public body of the powers herein granted may be authorized by resolution of the governing body of such state public body adopted by a majority of the members of its governing body present at a meeting of said governing body, which resolution may be adopted at the meeting at which such resolution is introduced. Such a resolution or resolutions shall take effect immediately and need not be laid over or published or posted.

History.—s. 7, ch. 17982, 1937; CGL 1940 Supp. 7100 (3-uu).

422.08 Supplemental nature of chapter.—The powers conferred by this chapter shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law.